Luggage-carrier for automobiles



C. DOUGHTY.

LUGGAGE CARRIER FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9. Ian.

aiaz giiimm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES DOUGHTY, 0F DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO F. J'. ROMAN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

LUGGAGE-CARRIER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification 01'. Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

Application filed October 9, 1917. Serial No. 195,505.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES DOUGHTY, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Denver and State of CoL orado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Luggage-Carriers for Automobiles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in luggage carriers more especially adapted for use in connection with automobiles, though it must be understood that it is capable of use in connection with any vehicle whose construction is such that it may be advantageously applied. As it is especially designed, so ar as the specific construction illustated in the drawing is concerned, for use with automobiles, the construction will be described with special reference to this use or employment.

Generally speaking the article is adapted to be applied to the running board or running boards of an automobile, and two of the devices may be employed with any car, that is to sa one on either side. This is perhaps pre erable where any considerable load is to be carried, since the machine thus equipped will be better balanced than where the entire load is upon one side.

My improvement consists of a sort of rack or skeleton frame composed of two members which form suitable angles. One of these members occupies a horizontal position or a position arallel with the running board to which it is secured by the employment of bolts or other fastening devices. The other member extends upwardly from the running board and forms in conjunction with the running board and the adjacent side of the automobile a receptacle for luggage, the u wardly pro ecting member being vertical y adjustable, in order to regulate the capaclty of the carrier. Furthermore, the two members are jointed at their intersection or angle, whereb the upwardly rejecting member may orm any angle with the other member between a right angle and a horizontal or parallel position, since the upwardly projecting member may not only be moved to the horizontal position or parallel with the other member, but its movement may also be continued and carried underneath the running board and it may be folded closely against the other member when it is not desired to use the same, or it may be entirely detached from the machine when it is not needed, as when the automobile is used in cities and on pleasure trips where no considerable amount of luggage is needed. The invention, however, will be found very valuable by picnickers and people going on hunting and fishing trips, and also in traveling any considerable distance with automobiles as is now frequently done.

Having briefly outlined my improvement, I will proceed to described the same in detail, reference being made to the accom panying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof. In this drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved luggage carrier, shown in connection with the running board of an automobile, the latter being partly broken away to fac1litate the showing of my improved structure.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the structure also shown connected with the running board of a car. This view is shown partly in section, taken on the line Q' -2, Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2 looking downwardly.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 2, the parts being shown on a larger scale.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, detail view illustrating the adjustability of the upright member, whereby the latter may be folded against its companion member underneath the running board. In this view the parts are shown on a considerably larger scale than in the other views.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 shows an automobile with the device applied thereto.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate my improved luggage carrier considered in its entiret and composed of two members 6 and which as shown in the drawing occupy positions forming right angles with each other, the said members, however, being adjustable throu h the medium of a pivot joint 27,

where y the member 6 may form various obtuse angles with the member 7 of any degree between the vertical and the horizontal. For instance, if it is desired to increase the capacity of the carrier, the member 6 may swing outwardly to the desired degree, thus giving it an incline as distingliished from a vertical position. The upright member 6 is vertically extensible, whereby its height or upright dimension may be regulated at will. Its two parts may be designated respectively by the numerals 8 and 9, the member 8 consisting of two arms 10 connected by slats 12, the said arms beinc slidably connected with the parts 9 whiei consist ofl arms slotted, as shown at 13, to receive set bolts 14 which pass through these slots and also through slots 15 formed in the arms 10. The bolts 14 have heads-16 on one side and wing nuts 17 on the opposite side. By loosening these nuts the two sets of arms may be moved freely upon each other, either for collapsing or expansion purposes oi for increasing or diminishing the capacity of the carrier. The lower extremities of the arms 9 are provided with reinforced inwardly projecting lugs 18 which abut and cooperate with similar lugs 19 formed on the outer extremities of horizontally disposed airms 20, of which the member 7 1 s composed, said arms being slotted to receive fastening. bolts '21 which are passed through the arms and also through perforations formed in the running board 22 of the machine. The lugs 18 and 19 are respectively equipped with ratchet teeth to facilitate the securing of said parts in any desired position of adjustment, the two lugs being perforate'd to receive a bolt 23 which passes through the registering perforations of the two parts and is secured by a wing nut 24. By loosening this nut at each end of the carrier, it Wllfl" be understood that the memher 6 may be swung outwardly and downwardly to vary its angle with the member 7 as may be desired. Furthermore, it may be swung underneath the member 6 when for any reason it it not desired to employ the some. Preparatory to the moving of the member 6 into the position ed nom-u sc5 the two arms 9 and 10 should be collapsed or adjusted to reduce the member 6 to the least possible height. This may be done by loosening the wing nut 17 and moving the arms 59 and their" eonneetiin slats 12', downwardly toward the running card of the machine. When thus coll-a sed, the wing nuts are again tightened. The note 24 are then loosened to allow the ratchet teeth of the two cooperating lugs 18 and 19 to become disenga d, after which the member 6 is swung rst downwardly and then inwardly and upwardly into on agement with the arms 26' of the member Attention is called to the fact that the arms 9 and 20 of the two members 6 and 7 are interchaugeable which is an iniportant point in the manufacture of the article and also in assembling the structure.

In adjusting the member (i so that it folds a ainst the member 7 in the manner indicated by broken lines in Fig. 5, provision is made for allowinp the member 6 together with the set bolt 23 to move downwardly in order to allow the corner 25 to swing clear of the menil'mr 7 when the member 6 is in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5, the two positions of :Hljllstlflullt being rcspectively indicated by broken and dotted lines in said figure. In order to permit this downward movement of the member 6 and the bolt 23, the lug 19 of the member 7 is vertically slotted, as shown rt 26. This is necessary for the reason that the member 7 is stationary with the running board, whereby its vertical adjustment cannot be varied.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of my improved luggage carrier will be readily understood. The only change in the running board in order to attach the carrier thereto, is the formation of openings through which the fastening bolts 21 may be passed. As soon as the nuts are tightened on these bolts the device is connected in operative relation with the machine and its adjustment may be accomplished in the manner heretofore described, either for the purpose of varying its luggage capacity or for the purpose of folding the member 6 underneath the running board and into engagement with the member 7, as hereto-fore described.

Attention is called to the fact that the carrier structure is laterally adjustable on the running board, whereby its capacity may be further increased.

This is due to the fact that the arms 20 of the member 7,. when the device fits closel against the outer edge of the running boar extend inwardly beyond the running board as shown at 28, an additional slot 29 being formed in this extension, the said slot being adapted to receive one of the bolts 21 when the device is moved outwardly to leave a s ace between the outer edge of the running card and the upright parts 9 of the member 6. This is a feature of considerable im ortance, since ordinarily there will be articles such as fishing rods and other devices which will be long enough to span the space between the arms 20 of the member 7 and, therefore, may be advantageously placed beyond the outer edge of the running board, eventhough the space is open between the arms 20. his feature will add considerably to the width of the carrier, and virtually gives the same carrying capacity as if the running board were conchange is made in the running board or other part of the automobile, which, when the carrier is detached, is ab" lutely the same as it was before.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim 1s:

1. A luggage carrier for automobiles, comprising two members, one of which is adapted to be attached to the running board, the said members havin cooperating abutting lugs arranged un erneath the outer edge of the running board and adjustably connected to vary capacity, and to fold underneath the running board when not in use, the lug of the second member being 009i 0! thll potent may be obtained for he cent! each, by addressing the Wellington, D. 0."

vertically adjustable bodily on the first member to permit the folding action.

2. The combination with the running board of an automobile of a luggage carrier comprising two members hingedly connected, one member bein attached to the rennin board and slidab y mounted thereon for ateral movement to vary the capacity of the carrier, and locking means on the hinge to maintain angle of adjustment to vary the capacity of the carrier.

In testimony whereof I affix my si ature.

CHARLES DOUG TY.

"Gommiuioner of Patents,

the other member at any 

